Honing Your Skills

Written By Colēgia

Being able to learn new skills along with improving at them is an essential part of self-development. Understanding all of the different ways we can do this matters which is why today we want to discuss the importance of honing your skills.

Putting in The Time

In order to get better at something, we need to put in the time to do so. There's a common phrase that mentions that in order to truly master something we need to put 10000 hours into it. While this is certainly a lot of time, the basic principle is that time gives us the ability to learn all of the deep complexities of a topic. One example of this can be found when learning a new sport. It can be intimidating to do at first because there are many different elements we need to be mindful of. When learning something new, we usually are more conscious of each step. This makes sense given that there is a lot to take in at first. Eventually, we will be able to do previous steps subconsciously which is good because it takes away some of the mental efforts initially needed. Time is the greatest teacher and giving things the proper amount of it can lead to improvement.

“In order to get better at something, we need to put in the time to do so.”

Be Receptive to New Ideas

Improvement is something that takes time and while it is tempting to want to work on this by ourselves, there will eventually come a point where we need to be receptive to new ideas. This is best seen when we have a mentor or coach able to help us out. A mentor learns alongside us and can share their experiences with how to get better at things. A coach is someone who comes with their own slew of knowledge about a topic and can be referred to for advice. Having people we can talk to about the different hobbies and interests we want to get better at is good because it can establish a sense of community. New ideas are necessary for improvement because they provide unique viewpoints which can allow for better productivity. Recognizing the value in asking for help, along with a new point of view can help you on your path to improvement.

“Improvement is something that takes time and while it is tempting to want to work on this by ourselves, there will eventually come a point where we need to be receptive to new ideas.”

Learn to Love The Process

When it comes to honing your skills it's important to recognize that it's a journey rather than a sprint. This is good to learn early since it helps re-frame our mind to view improvement as a process rather than a goal post we are rushing to reach. Process-oriented thinking gives us the chance to see our work as something that is constantly helping us. This includes improving at our skills as well. Finding the value in the present can give us a greater appreciation for it along with fostering feelings of gratitude. Being mindful of the entire journey even in the present is good since it can keep you in the moment and take things one step at a time.

Colēgia

Colēgia

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